Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting – June 3, 2026

The Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) met on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Northfield City Hall, 801 Washington Street, Northfield, MN. Chair Sarah Beimers called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Six commissioners were present: Baird Jarman, Clifford Clark, Robert Stangler, Sarah Beimers, Aaron Street, and Larry Tolle. Commissioner Amy Machacek Shonka was absent. Staff present included Associate Planner Mathias Hughey, Meeting Associate Matt Bailey, and Youth Representative Astrid White. The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Street; 6-0).
• The May 6, 2026 HPC meeting minutes (item 26-297) were approved as amended to correct the titles of members in votes after the election (motion by Commissioner Street, seconded by Commissioner Clark; 6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment was received.

Discussion Items

• HPC Res. 2026-005 – Certificate of Appropriateness, Window and Door Replacement at 411–413 Division Street S. (the Hamre Building): Associate Planner Mathias Hughey presented the application. A representative of the applicant, REO Properties LLC, responded to HPC questions regarding materials and placement of the windows.
• HPC Res. 2026-006 – Certificate of Appropriateness, New Construction at 212 Division Street S. (the Archer House Redevelopment): Associate Planner Hughey presented the application and an overview of the project's history and City-set requirements. Scott Quiring, Partner at Amcon Construction, presented updated renderings. Hughey, City Planner Mikayla Schmidt, Community Development Director Scott Wopata, and Quiring responded to HPC questions about the facade setback and variations, brick color, the riverside (rear) facade and patio, on-street parking, and the visual verticality of the facade. Molly Maguire, Associate Director at New History (design consultants), provided background on the historical appropriateness of the design and on agreements reached by City staff, the HPC subcommittee, and New History.
• The HPC held extended deliberations on the Archer House application (extending the meeting by 30 minutes, then to 8:30 p.m., then to the conclusion of business) before approving the certificate with four conditions.

Key Outcomes

• Hamre Building (2026-005): Approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for window and door replacement (motion by Commissioner Jarman, seconded by Commissioner Stangler; 6-0).
• Archer House (2026-006): Approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for new construction as amended to include four conditions (motion by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Stangler; 5-0 with Commissioner Street abstaining). The approved conditions, each carried 5-0 with Commissioner Street abstaining, were: (1) matte finish paint on the rooftop mechanical enclosures to reduce reflection (motion by Clark, seconded by Stangler); (2) exterior red brick with a consistent shade and minimal variegation to better match the historic district (motion by Stangler, seconded by Clark); (3) round-top windows added back to the top level of the west (river-facing) facade (motion by Stangler, seconded by Clark); and (4) differentiation of the color of the ground-floor rusticated stone to extend the building's verticality and visually break up its large horizontal mass (motion by Clark, seconded by Stangler).
• Note: The minutes attribute the motion to extend the meeting until the conclusion of business to "Chair Jarman," which appears to be a typographical error, as Chair Beimers presided and Commissioner Jarman was a voting member present.

Staff Updates

• Associate Planner Hughey provided staff updates (item 26-298).

Adjournment

• Chair Beimers adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m.